Bhubaneswar: The Department of School and Mass Education (S&ME) on Thursday directed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to ensure that the agitating teachers, who have remained absent would not get salary of the same days. The move came after block grant teachers under the banner of Odisha School College Teachers […]

Bhubaneswar: The Department of School and Mass Education (S&ME) on Thursday directed all District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to ensure that the agitating teachers, who have remained absent would not get salary of the same days.

The move came after block grant teachers under the banner of Odisha School College Teachers and Employees’ United Forum, who have been staging protest since August 16 intensified their stir and threatened to lock the schools across the state.

In a letter to all the DEOs and BEOs, S&ME Principal Secretary, PK Mohapatra has directed to check attendance of all teachers/junior teachers/contractual teachers from September 6 and ensure that those who have remained absent without permission or proper ground do not get salary for the days of absence.

In the case of contractual teachers, Mohapatra has asked the DEOs and BEOs to treat their unauthorised absence as a reason for not renewing the annual contract due in next March and prior to that they may take action to disengage them after following due procedure, the letter mentioned.

Besides, the BEOs have been asked to make local arrangements for smooth functioning of schools.

Notably, the agitation of the block grant teachers entered 22nd day on Thursday. They have been braving the incessant rain sitting in the Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar to press their demands.